Coronavirus Restrictions For Riverside County: Latest Update

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — With cases spiking, on Monday Gov. Gavin Newsom announced most of California will join Riverside County in the state's most prohibitive "widespread coronavirus" tier, and there could be more restrictions to come.

"California is experiencing the fastest increase in cases we have seen yet — faster than what we experienced at the outset of the pandemic or even this summer,"Newsom said. "The spread of COVID-19, if left unchecked, could quickly overwhelm our health care system and lead to catastrophic outcomes."

Riverside County continues to have the second highest number of coronavirus cases statewide behind Los Angeles. The total number of COVID-19 infections recorded in Riverside County since the public health documentation period began in early March is 75,848 Monday, with a death toll of 1,374, according to the Riverside University Health System.

Riverside County weekend numbers increased by 1,668 new coronavirus cases, seven deaths, and 24 added hospitalizations.

By comparison, countywide there were 71,620 coronavirus cases and 1,338 COVID-19 deaths reported one week ago on Nov. 9, according to the RUHS data. The one-week increase represents 4,228 new cases and 36 deaths.

Countywide, COVID-19 hospitalizations were reported at 306 on Monday, which includes 78 intensive care unit patients — 13 more in ICU than on Friday.

One week ago, RUHS reported 228 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, including 64 ICU patients.

County Emergency Management Director Bruce Barton told the Board of Supervisors last week that virus-related hospitalizations "continue to trend up," and healthcare facilities are preparing for a surge.

On Monday, Gov. Newsom announced that California has 40 counties moving backward on the state's COVID-19 tiered risk assessment blueprint, rolling back reopening plans statewide. And 41 counties now sit in the state's most restrictive purple tier:

"Every age group, every demographic, racial, ethnic, in every part of the state we are seeing case rates increase," Newsom said. "We are seeing community spread broadly."

Announcements for which counties are able to move through the tiers are typically made on Tuesdays, but state health officials revised that plan Monday due to rapidly worsening virus spread. Now, tier assignments will be altered on any day of the week and more than once a week, as warranted, according to state officials.

On Friday, state officials also announced that gatherings in purple tier counties must be outdoors with no more than three households mixing. Indoor gatherings of family and friends from other households are now prohibited ahead of the holidays.

Friday's prohibition came with an announcement by Newsom advising that anyone arriving in the Golden State after recreational travel should self-quarantine for 14 days. The advisory includes Californians returning home after traveling outside of their home state and visitors from elsewhere who are arriving in California. Travelers are asked to interact only with their immediate household. Read more here.

On Monday, Newsom spoke of a possible statewide curfew to minimize virus spread.

"Now before you jump in terms of your mindset on whether that's a good idea or bad idea, we are assessing that as well," Newsom said of a possible curfew.

Los Angeles County was among those already considering a local curfew.

LA County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas reiterated Monday that the possibility of additional restrictions this week could include possible curfew for business operations or other restrictions on operating hours.

"While we should not jump to any conclusions before the Board of Supervisors has had time to fully consider all options, I trust we will be guided by ways to safely keep the economy open," Ridley-Thomas said in a statement. "We must also look for structural ways to remind everyone that the safest place to be right now is at home. Potential options could include instituting a curfew, so businesses do not have to close again. Rather, businesses would have limited hours for essential activities."

LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn echoed that possibility, particularly for restaurants.

"The fact of the matter is, this is a dire warning to all of us. It's an alarm that the cases have spiked so dramatically," Hahn told KNX Newsradio Monday. "The suggestion is that we ask our businesses, our restaurants, to close maybe by 10 p.m. so that they don't essentially become bars where people are just sitting around drinking, laughing and talking without their masks on. So it's not a general public curfew for everybody."

In Riverside County, there has been no public discussion of a possible curfew. The Board of Supervisors is scheduled to meet Tuesday, during which time local health officials will provide an update on the county's COVID-19 situation. To watch the meeting that begins at 9:30 a.m., click here.

See below for what's currently open under the state's purple tier (NOTE: State guidance on youth sports is expected in coming days.) Counties and cities may impose tighter restrictions although Riverside County is not.

*Gatherings updated November 13, 2020
**Outdoor playgrounds and outdoor recreational facilities updated September 28, 2020
***Personal care services, live audience professional sports and amusement parks updated October 20, 2020